San Diego Surf Events

Buzz-Worthy Boarding

There’s always a wave to ride in San Diego, but there’s also bound to be a surf event worth catching too. With a surf scene this exciting, there’s always something going on. From amateur contests to pro competitions, concerts to surfing dogs, you can find the surf event that fits your vibe. Then just ride the good times.

San Diego Surf Film Festival

When: May

Can’t get enough of San Diego’s surf culture? Check out the San Diego Surf Film Festival in La Jolla. Last year, the event offered more than 20 national and international surf films, filmmaker meet-and-greets and a brewery party. Surfers, movie-lovers and anyone who just loves the San Diego beach life will be right at home.

Covering four summer weekends on four different San Diego beaches (including Mission Beach and Pacific Beach), this amateur surf contest series is designed to give local surfers a chance to compete. The excitement extends to the shore, with live music, various vendors and a skate competition. The final contest is the largest surf and skate event in San Diego.

Local bands Switchfoot wanted to find a way to give back to the community of San Diego, and boom: the Bro-Am was born. This San Diego-style celebration features an awesome surf competition and free concerts on the sand at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. It brings attention and gives grants to a variety of non-profit organizations. Some kids from these charities even get VIP treatment with surf lessons and front-row seats to the concerts. Come join the fun for a couple days of sunshine, surfing and live music on the beach—all for a good cause.

The fun of catching a wave isn’t just limited to us bipeds. Our furry friends can also get out there and surf—and that’s something everyone needs to see. This competitions is sponsored by San Diego Humane Center and includes solo dog surf competitions and owner-with-dog competitions. There’s a $2 entrance fee that raises money for the organization. The Internet has nothing on these dogs.

The top professional female surfers in the world take to the waves of Oceanside to compete in a three-day event for the championship. The free experience also includes a festival village with music, celebrity speakers, vendors and lots more, with a focus on female strength, independence, and empowerment. In fact, it’s the only all-girls action sports professional competition and lifestyle festival in the world, and thousands come to join the excitement.

Head down to Ocean Beach in August to watch the grommets (young surfers) rip it. Surfers 16 and under compete in short and longboard competitions sponsored by Sunset Cliffs Surfing Association. Bring an appetite, too—the BBQ is no joke.

This one-of-a-kind competition in Oceanside is full of “Ohana” (Hawaiian for “family”) and good vibes. You might even find yourself among a ukulele jam session between surf contests. The event brings in local and national talent in competitions of longboarding, noseriding, tandem teams, paddleboard races and more. All proceeds go to the Guy Takayama Foundation, which provide college scholarships for underserved youth, among other charities.

A family-friendly event that includes an amateur and pro surf competition, this surf show is located just steps from the countless bars, shops and restaurants of Ocean Beach. Enjoy the surf as well as local music and hundreds of vendors with four events held throughout summer. They are open to all levels of competition, with the fourth event being the finals.

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